Richard Sarlette, a member of the 1953 graduating class of Morris High School, has been awarded a Josephine L. Merriam scholarship for study at the University of Minnesota for the 1953-54 school year. Richard's selection for the scholarship out of a large number of applicants was based on his fine academic record, vocational aptitude and leadership potentiality.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Maurice McCollar Jr., who will close a brilliant high school athletic career today when he goes to Minneapolis to compete in the state track tournament, was selected for the Morris Lions Club's annual “Athlete of the Year” award. Winning Morris Kiwanis Club's scholarship honor awards annually given to outstanding girl and boy members of the senior class were Arlene Hansen and Warner Nibbe. These awards were presented for the Kiwanis Club by Gale Swenson.

W. Wolking of Wolking Oil Co., Donnelly, distributor of Mobil oil and Mobil gas in this area, has been awarded a plaque by Socony-Vacuum to mark the completion of 17 years as a marketer of the company's products. The plaque was presented by Burt Reinfrank, assistant district manager, at an award banquet held recently in Fergus Falls, attended by Socony-Vacuum distributors in this area.

Several young people from this area who will graduate from Moorhead State Teachers college at exercises on June 5 have already accepted teaching positions for the 1953-54 school year, it is reported. Miss Armelia Nagl of Alberta, has accepted a position in the Montevideo School system. Miss Margaret Messner of Hancock will be a member of the Clinton faculty. Miss Doris Shelstad of Alberta will teach at Wheaton. Miss June Steinbring of Hancock has accepted a position in the Ortonville schools.

20 Years Ago

Items taken from the Sun of May 11, 1993

Darrell Kirwin retired as president of Citizens Bank last month, 38 years to the day in April 1955, when he began work there. There will be an open house in Kirwin's honor this Friday at the bank. Kirwin, who was born and raised in Stevens County, began work in the bank as a teller. He said that in those days, tellers handled everything from banking to insurance. He was hired by Ed LaFave Sr. right after he returned to Morris from military service.

Work on Atlantic Avenue will appear to go slowly for a while with the utility replacement. But it should pick up once the general contractor begins on the excavation for the street. Jim Rentz, a construction manager with Riley Brothers, said Thursday, that work was also slowed because of the rain. City Manager Ed Larson said he had talked to Joe Riley, who told him they would “attempt” to complete the portion up to Highway 59 first. He said that with two driving lanes on that portion of the street to Super America, the detour on California Ave. could be eliminated and all traffic would be detoured on Pacific Ave.

Vern Scheil started picking up agates in the gravel between railroad ties when he was growing up in Waite Park, and “I picked it up as a real hobby.” That hobby has lasted him through a life time and taken him on many trips to places like the North Shore of Lake Superior, Montana, New Mexico and Old Mexico. Many of those trips were with friends from the Morris area—Sid Gausman, Bill Bakey, Dr. Arneson and Dr. Carlson from Alexandria. And many he took with his wife, Bertha. Bertha died in November 1988. But some of their children and now a grandchild have inherited the agate bug. Scheil said he had made over 35 trips to Old Mexico. A lot of them were quick since he had to be back at work at the telephone company where he was manager.

Ray Strand, art furniture designer and builder from Morris, has been selected to participate in the 1993 Minnesota Crafts Festival which will be held June 26-27, at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul. The Minnesota Crafts Festival has been organized to broaden public awareness and appreciation of craft work. He has also entered the Midwest Home Design contest sponsored by Minnesota Monthly magazine, and has a number of tables at the Judith McGrann Gallery in Minneapolis.

Like many teen-agers, 15 year old Rachel Bumgardner of Herman has a part-time job, is active in her church and Sunday school, found transferring to junior high hard at first, and hopes one day to work in an office. Rachel also finds time to perform community service, as she helps to educate the local community about birth defects. Rachel has been chosen as the 1993 Poster Child for the Pomme de Terre chapter of the March of Dimes. Rachel, who has Down Syndrome, will help publicize and promote educational and fund-raising projects for the birth defects foundation. Rachel is the daughter of Calvin and Jan Bumgardner of Herman.

The Morris Tigers took part in an event with a long history. Both the boys and girls were in action at the 36th Annual Milbank Invitational for distance running. Meet records can be elusive in an event with such a long history. Andy Tate managed to set one anyway. In the process he set a school record. Tate ran a 9:42.02 time in the 3200 meters. This is the longest distance offered in prep track and field. Tate erased a meet record that had been on the books since the mid-1970s. Tate passed Jerry Mall in the school record annals.